Miller: City needs a mayor with business background

Published: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 6:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 6:51 p.m.

Hendersonville needs a mayor who “has a strong business background and will look at running the city like a really big business,” potential candidate Jeff Miller said.

The local businessman and former GOP congressional nominee said Tuesday he will most likely file next week for the non-partisan race against incumbent Mayor Barbara Volk in the November election.

Miller said the city council has been missing the mark for years when it comes to generating business in the city. He doesn't agree with some of the decisions being made at city hall.

“I just want to give a different skill set, and that is all I have to offer,” Miller said. “I think they (the council) have good intentions on how they view things, but I don't view them the same way.”

Miller, a 30-year city resident, said the council needs to realize that the city has to have a positive attitude toward Hendersonville businesses.

“It (the city) doesn't have that reputation from a business standpoint,” Miller said.

It's also important to have good relationships between businesses and residents, because they need each other.

“If you get that working right, everything clicks,” he added.

Miller said the city is not inviting enough for business owners — future and present — something he has experienced firsthand.

Frustration began to mount for Miller six years ago when he moved his business, Miller's Laundry and Cleaners, to a facility on Brevard Road, where he was charged a system development charge to go online with Hendersonville's water and sewage system. Four years later, he moved more equipment into the location and was again assessed fees to tap into the system.

“It was not a new business,” Miller said. “I was just moving my business.”

In 2011, city officials asked Miller to return after a couple of years for a possible refund once they reviewed the current system development charge.

Miller, sitting in his office at the Brevard Road location, pointed at paperwork from the city Tuesday and said, “This is crazy. It is unfair and unrealistic.”

Previously, system development charges were based on meter size. A new formula approved in August, however, changed the rate structure to a demand base to apply a more “fair cost” to its customers and “level the playing field,” Utilities Director Lee Smith said in January.

Miller said he's afraid that if the issue persists, the state will take the water and sewer department and create an authority.

“If this is what (city council) chooses to stick with and I don't get elected and we, as a council, do not address this and cannot make this competitive and fair, the state will step in,” he said.

Volk, who filed for re-election Friday, does not agree Hendersonville is anti-business.

“We try to work with as many businesses as possible for opportunities to expand or open,” she said.

City staff has worked for a couple of years on Miller's request to address the system development charge, she added, and the council will hear more on the issue at Thursday's council meeting.

“We don't want this to be a stumbling block,” Volk said. “We are working through this and trying to come up with the best solution. We are trying to continue to find a balance to gain capital improvements, who pays the fund and over what period they pay it.”

A proposed revision offers credit or a refund to previous customers or a possible payment, depending on how much water the customer used.

But Miller said that doesn't solve the problem for people who need to pay the system development charge up front. He wants to see a reasonable system development charge and not one that he says scares away business.

“I would look forward to working with the council and the new city manager,” Miller said.

<p>Hendersonville needs a mayor who “has a strong business background and will look at running the city like a really big business,” potential candidate Jeff Miller said. </p><p>The local businessman and former GOP congressional nominee said Tuesday he will most likely file next week for the non-partisan race against incumbent Mayor Barbara Volk in the November election.</p><p>Miller said the city council has been missing the mark for years when it comes to generating business in the city. He doesn't agree with some of the decisions being made at city hall. </p><p>“I just want to give a different skill set, and that is all I have to offer,” Miller said. “I think they (the council) have good intentions on how they view things, but I don't view them the same way.”</p><p>Miller, a 30-year city resident, said the council needs to realize that the city has to have a positive attitude toward Hendersonville businesses.</p><p>“It (the city) doesn't have that reputation from a business standpoint,” Miller said. </p><p>It's also important to have good relationships between businesses and residents, because they need each other.</p><p>“If you get that working right, everything clicks,” he added. </p><p>Miller said the city is not inviting enough for business owners — future and present — something he has experienced firsthand.</p><p>Frustration began to mount for Miller six years ago when he moved his business, Miller's Laundry and Cleaners, to a facility on Brevard Road, where he was charged a system development charge to go online with Hendersonville's water and sewage system. Four years later, he moved more equipment into the location and was again assessed fees to tap into the system.</p><p>“It was not a new business,” Miller said. “I was just moving my business.”</p><p>In 2011, city officials asked Miller to return after a couple of years for a possible refund once they reviewed the current system development charge.</p><p>Miller, sitting in his office at the Brevard Road location, pointed at paperwork from the city Tuesday and said, “This is crazy. It is unfair and unrealistic.”</p><p>Previously, system development charges were based on meter size. A new formula approved in August, however, changed the rate structure to a demand base to apply a more “fair cost” to its customers and “level the playing field,” Utilities Director Lee Smith said in January. </p><p>Miller said he's afraid that if the issue persists, the state will take the water and sewer department and create an authority.</p><p>“If this is what (city council) chooses to stick with and I don't get elected and we, as a council, do not address this and cannot make this competitive and fair, the state will step in,” he said. </p><p>Volk, who filed for re-election Friday, does not agree Hendersonville is anti-business.</p><p>“We try to work with as many businesses as possible for opportunities to expand or open,” she said.</p><p>City staff has worked for a couple of years on Miller's request to address the system development charge, she added, and the council will hear more on the issue at Thursday's council meeting.</p><p>“We don't want this to be a stumbling block,” Volk said. “We are working through this and trying to come up with the best solution. We are trying to continue to find a balance to gain capital improvements, who pays the fund and over what period they pay it.” </p><p>A proposed revision offers credit or a refund to previous customers or a possible payment, depending on how much water the customer used.</p><p>But Miller said that doesn't solve the problem for people who need to pay the system development charge up front. He wants to see a reasonable system development charge and not one that he says scares away business.</p><p>“I would look forward to working with the council and the new city manager,” Miller said.</p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com. </p>